Compare towns
Concord vs Exeter vs Keene vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Rochester has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Concord | Exeter | Keene | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
16,151Lowest |
22,939 |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rochester and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,902±$5k 14% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$80,836±$3k 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13k 13% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$279,100±$10k 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43 3% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227 8% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Keene School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | Exeter High School | Keene High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
12.1Lowest |
12.3 |
13.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.